Better forecasting to predict magnetic solar storms

“ACTIVE sunspot region 930, currently on the far side of the sun, appears to be growing into a monster. As it rotates Earthside, we expect to see some major flares and coronal mass ejections heading our way. That probably means radio blackouts for people living at lower latitudes, with higher radiation levels and geomagnetic storms at high latitudes. So if you’re planning a trans-polar flight in the next couple of weeks, prepare for a longer trip because you could be diverted south.”

This report, though fictional, could easily have been broadcast last December, when an unprecedented series of solar storms hurtled towards Earth. That is, if the handful of space weather researchers had seen them coming in time.

In reality, the forecasters weren’t concerned about the previously placid sunspot cluster until it rotated into view on 5 December and erupted with an enormous flare. The flare disrupted ...

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